Independent Scotland 'unlikely to be accepted into EU'

Ruari Quinn says Scotland would not be able to opt out of the Euro. Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The SNP's plan to negotiate an independent Scotland's conditional membership of the European Union with several opt-outs has been dismissed by an architecht of EU law.

Former European Council president Ruairi Quinn said in the "unlikely" event Scotland is accepted into the EU it would have to agree to join the euro, contrary to the SNP's plan to keep the pound.

Scotland's membership is likely to be vetoed by "at least two member states, maybe more" to discourage secessionist sentiment throughout Europe, according to Mr Quinn, who presided over the group that decided the economic criteria for joining the euro.

A Yes Scotland spokesman said: "Mr Quinn will be aware that one of the entry criteria is membership of the exchange rate mechanism for two years - which is itself voluntary - so no country can be forced to join the euro against its will, as the example of Sweden makes abundantly clear.